Rotary engine.



F. HIBNER.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JA 11111111 4.

Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

H'HHII FRANK HIBNER, OF NORTH PLAT'IE, NEBRASKA.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

Application filed January 31, 1914. Serial No. 815,625.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK HIBNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at North Platte, in the county of Lincoln and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and useful Rotary Engine; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to the art of engines, and particularly to a new and useful improved steam engine of the rotary type.

The aim of this invention is to provide an engine of this design, in which the utilized steam is exhausting at the same time steam enters, thereby maintaining the power of the engine at a uniformity, thereby increasing the efliciency'of this type of engine.

One of the features of the invention is the provision of a rotor having a plurality of circumferentially arranged abutment chambers, any one of which, when registering with the steam inlet chamber, forms an elongated or oblong chamber, against one end wall of which, a jet of steam is directed, thereby imparting revoluble movement to the rotor, and as each abutment chamber reaches the exhaust port, exhausting the utilized steam, a succeeding abutment chamber is acted upon by the jet of steam, and in this manner a continual uniform revoluble movement of the rotor maintained, thereby acting as an overshot steam turbine.

Another feature of the invention is the improved construction of the engine casing and the mounting of the rotor. For instance, the casing comprises a depending semi-cylindrical portion, acting as a supporting basket and bearing for the rotor, and as an oil container on which the rotor substantially floats in its revoluble movement; in combination with a semi-cylindrical casing cap, which is firmly held in place, yet yieldabl in order to accommodate itself to the vibrations of the rotor in lateral direction, as well as compensating for the wear and lost motion and consumption of the oil in the supporting basket.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a rotary engine of this character, in which either gasolene, air or steam, or preferably steam may be utilized as the motor power.

In practical fields the details of construction may be subjected to alterations, falling within the scope of what is claimed.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts, as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings :-Figure 1 is a sectional view through the improved steam engine. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of Fig. 1. v Referring more especially to the drawings, designates the frame of the engine comprislng the base 2, the end brackets or uprights 3 and 4 and the top plate 5, which arches or bridges from one upright or bracket to the other. This top plate 5 is provided with a depending semi-cylindrical supporting basket 6 having the flanges 7 which not only constitute a support for the rotor 8, but also acts as a container for oil, which not only keeps the rotor well 1ubricated, but constitutes means to substantially float the rotor in its revoluble movements. The cylindrical surface of the rotor is provided with a plurality of circumferentially arranged substantially V-shaped chambers 9. These chambers are provided with abutment walls 10, with which a jet of steam contacts to impart a revoluble movement to the rotor, thereby affording an overshot steam turbine. The drive shaft of the rotor consists of two parts 12 and 13, the drive shaft, however, as a whole, is designated. by the numeral 14:. The part 12 of the shaft is keyed at 15 to the rotor and mounted in bearings 16 of the top plate, and provided with a drive pulley 16 while the part 13 is keyed at 17 to the opposite face of the rotor,

and likewise mounted in a bearing 18 of the.

top plate and provided with a fly wheel 19. The key connections 15 and 17 are arranged at right angles to one another, so that in this manner the rotor practically floats upon the oil in the supporting depending basket of the top plate, thereby insuring freedom of movement for the rotor.

A semi-cylindrical casing cap 20 having flanges 21 arches over the rotor, the flanges 21 extending partially downwardly and inwardly toward the center of the rotor upon both sides thereof, thereby reinforcing the side walls of the abutment chambers. This casing cap is bolted by the bolts 22 to the top plate, there being suitable springs or the like 23 carried by the bolts to hold the easing cap yieldably in contact with the rotor,

which case firing means thereby not only enabling the rotor to vibrate, but also compensating for the wear and lost motion, as well as the consumption of the oil in the supporting basket. The casing cap 20 on its inner circumference is provided with a substantially V-shaped concavity or depression 2 having a wall 25, through which the steam inlet pipe :8 ex tends for projecting a jet of steam against the abutment Wall 10 of each chamber 9, so asto impart motion to the rotor.

At the same time the steam acts upon each abutment wall 10, the preceding utilized steam exhausts through the exhaust port 27, thereby producing an overshot steam turbine, IllzlVhlCh uniform revoluble movements of the rotor are maintained. The supply of steam may be received from any suitable source not shown.

If desired, the steam inlet pipe 48 may be removed,"and a plug threaded in its place, then the plug 46 may be removed, and in lieu thereof any suitable means (not shown) may be connected for projecting other motive power into each of the chambers 9, in (not shown) may be. provided in the chambers 9 and 24, for firing said motive power. In this case, however,the utilized motive power is exhausted in the same manner as before stated.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed as new and useful is 1. In improvements of a revoluble engine, a frame having a depending semi-cylindrical rotor-support constituting an oil container, a revoluble rotor floatably supported in said container and provided with a ph1- rality of circumferentially arranged abut ment chambers, a semi-cylindrical cap arching said rotor and provided with a concavity, which together with each abutment chamber constitutes means to receive motive power, and an exhaust port for the utilized motive means.

2. In improvements of a revoluble engine, a frame having a depending semi-cylindri- Oopies of this patent may be obtained for cal rotor support constituting an oil container, a revoluble rotor floatably supported in said container and rality of circumferentially arranged abutment chambers, a semi-cylindrical cap arching said rotor and provided with a concavity, which together with each abutment chamber constitutes means to receive motive power, and an exhaust port for the utilized motive means, and means for holding the cap yieldably against the rotor to permit.

the rotor to vibrate, as well as compensating for the wearand lost motion and consumption of oil in the container.

In improvements in a revoluble engine, a frame having a depending semi-cylindrical rotor support constituting an oil container having side flanges, a revoluble rotor supported in said container and,

floatably provided with a plurality ofcircumferentially arranged abutment chambers, a semicylindrical casing cap arching said rotor and provided with side flanges and having a concavity, said concavity togetherflwith each abutment chamber constituting means to receive motive power, said fiangesof the casing cap constituting remforcmgmeans:

motion and consumption of oil in the con Y 85 tainer; y

In testimony whereof I have signed my.

name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. f

FRANK HIBNER.

Witnesses:

W. EV STARR,

G. F. STRAUSS.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 1

provided with a plu- I 

